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The vast socialist conspiracy (III)

Here is the airing of accusations and denials that followed Question Period today.

In other news, the protester known as Jeh was just on Power & Politics explaining that nothing was amiss with the blood on his face, that the poor quality of the image of him leaving Parliament is to account for the blood not being visible. He also produced what he said was an ER report of his injuries to the nose and face.

Hon. Jay Hill (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a question of privilege in regards to the disturbance in the public gallery yesterday during question period and charge the member for Toronto—Danforth with contempt for his involvement in this incident.

It has now become quite clear that the people who disrupted the proceedings of this House were guests of the leader of the NDP. That member booked room 237-C from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon prior to Question Period for the use of that group. It was set up, according to the parliamentary functions room request form, for theatre-style seating, standing microphones for questions, and media feed, all provided by the House of Commons.

Conservative members of the Environment Committee happened to be meeting in the Commonwealth Room, which is adjacent to room 237-C. Those members reported to me that they heard the group in room 237-C practising their chant very loudly. It was clear to all people.

We cannot allow members to misuse Parliament to aid in such obstruction. Obstructing members in the performance of their duties is a breach of our privileges, as we well know. Clearly, yesterday during Question Period, this House was obstructed by the disturbance in the gallery. Question Period was interrupted while security cleared the gallery. The Canadian Press reported that the NDP member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley stood outside watching after the protesters were ushered from the building and praised their disruptive tactics. He was quoted as saying: “It’s pretty powerful, there’s no doubt about it, young people getting this animated.”

This was not just a bunch of kids making a point. We had two constables that reportedly went to the hospital as a result of that group making their point. It was also reported to me that some members were uncomfortable and feared for their safety. Might I remind the Speaker that it is also contempt to intimidate, or attempt to intimidate, members of this House.

I refer hon. members to Marleau and Montpetit at page 67.

There are, however, other affronts against the dignity and authority of Parliament which may not fall within one of the specifically defined privileges. Thus, the House also claims the right to punish, as a contempt, any action which, though not a breach of a specific privilege, tends to obstruct or impede the House in the performance of its functions; obstructs or impedes any Member or Officer of the House in the discharge of their duties.

Marleau and Montpetit states that, By far the most important right accorded to Members of the House is the exercise of freedom of speech in parliamentary proceedings. It has been described as: …a fundamental right without which they would be hampered in the performance of their duties. It permits them to speak in the House without inhibition, to refer to any matter or express any opinion as they see fit, to say what they feel needs to be said in the furtherance of the national interest and the aspirations of their constituents.

On page 84 of Marleau and Montpetit it states: Speakers have consistently upheld the right of the House to the services of its Members free from intimidation, obstruction and interference.

The precedent cited on that same page is from Speaker Lamoureux, who went further and suggested that members should be protected from “threats or attempts at intimidation”.

We must provide protection for the House, its members, and its officers from improper obstruction or attempt at or threat of obstruction that interferes with the performance of their respective functions.

The leader of the protesters is the political events organizer of the NDP. His group gained access to the parliamentary precinct because of the leader of the NDP. The leader of the NDP provided a practice room for this group. They were allowed to go from their practice to the galleries where they obstructed the proceedings of the House and intimidated some members.

In summary, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you investigate this matter and report back to the House as soon as possible.

Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the references that the hon. House leader has made I am familiar with them but I simply want to point out to the House leader and to you, Mr. Speaker, that this is the party that brought forward a 200 page manual on how to obstruct the work of committees.

A former Deputy Speaker, Bill Blaikie, once said to the House that demonstration and filibustering are part of the democratic process. Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives Canadians the right to express their freedom of expression. That is what happened here.

Mr. Speaker, I would just indicate that freedom of speech is not just for parliamentarians. It is for all Canadians.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I would first like to say that I know that the government takes great exception to anyone who dares to protest. The question the government House leader has raised today is absolutely absurd. As others have pointed out, this is simply political grandstanding.

I would agree that it is this particular House leader who has told the House repeatedly that when such matters arise, the appropriate place to raise those issues is in the House leader’s meeting, which, by the way, will take place at 3:30 this afternoon. If he was concerned about security issues, that is the appropriate place to raise that matter.

What I have to say to the House in response to these ludicrous allegations is that the member for Toronto—Danforth had nothing whatsoever to do with the protest that took place in the gallery yesterday. Let us be very clear. There were members from different parties who met with the young people on Parliament Hill. It is part of our responsibility and mandate to book rooms and meet with constituencies and organizations that are on Parliament Hill.

The member for Toronto—Danforth was simply doing his job. As the leader of the New Democrats, I am glad that he met with this very enthusiastic group of young people who came to Parliament to raise their concerns about climate change. To charge the member with contempt, saying that somehow the NDP organized the protest in the House is ludicrous. There is no conspiracy except in the mind of the government House leader. The fact is we knew nothing about the protest and if members will recall, the protest took place in the middle of the question from the leader of the NDP in question period.

This is an absurd allegation. It is simply being made for political grandstanding. The fact is, yes, the NDP leader met with the group, as did other members of Parliament. We had no knowledge of the protest, but in a broader spectrum, we uphold and respect the rights of people to protest and put forward their points of view.

The government House leader is simply trying to make political points in the House. It is not a question of privilege. The member for Toronto—Danforth has done nothing wrong in terms of his responsibilities as a member. To charge him with contempt of the House is absolutely absurd. I would ask the member to withdraw this point of privilege on the basis that it has no factual or evidentiary information whatsoever.

Mr. Mark Warawa (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I want to speak on the same question of privilege.

Yesterday the Conservative members of the Standing Committee on the Environment met at 1:30 p.m. At 1:45 p.m. there was a chant or yell, what seemed like a war cry like I have never heard since I was elected in 2004. It was substantial enough that we stopped the meeting to find out what was happening. We proceeded from room 238-S and opened the door to room 237-C to find out what was happening. It was meeting of the same young people that were in the gallery yesterday in question period. I recognized many of them in that room.

Because it was so out of the norm, I checked to find out who had reserved that room and hosted that meeting. It turned out it was the NDP, so the House leader is absolutely right.

Then I was shocked to discover during question period that there was a well organized strategy. Guests of the NDP were sitting in the gallery for this well organized event, which was disgraceful, in my opinion. It was well organized and put observing citizens of Canada who were present and security officers at extreme risk.

After the event, I climbed up there and it was a very dangerous situation that the protestors put our security staff in. People could have gotten hurt. In fact, as the House leader said, two of the officers were injured and had to go to hospital.

We hear an endorsement of that type of action from the Liberals, acceptance from the Bloc and justification from the NDP. It is absolutely disgraceful. It should never have happened. It should not have been hosted and supported by the NDP. It owes the House an apology.

I came here to represent my wonderful community of Langley and it is an honour to be here. To see this type of disrespect for the House should never happen again and the House deserves an apology.

The Speaker: I am not sure we need to hear a whole lot more on this point. I think I have heard enough on the point that I can at least take the matter under advisement at this stage. I am not sure that there has been a breach of the privileges of members from what I have heard, but I will look into the matter further.

Of course in the proceedings yesterday, I could not see what was happening behind me at all. In this seat, you cannot see what is happening in that gallery, but I appreciate the hon. member’s intervention on the point and I will look into it.

I notice that Evan Solomon went on and on about the "poor" activist who got injured while disobeying the law, but made no mention of the two security officers who were injured. Thanks for posting this Wherry so we know what really happened.

Was Mark Warawa in the room seeing the "war cry" of those protesters so deafening (BTW does he wear earplugs in QP?) OR as he usually does embellish his indignant outrage for the people of Langley. Dude, he's an MP and is supposed to represent all Canadians. If you saw his "point of privilege" you would realize he was acting for the camera.

Now just so you don't go all ballistic Evan Solomon got punk'd by an Abbie Hoffmann wannabe. WDM is right Don Newman would not have given them press time.

But to be absolutely clear, all Canadians have the right to freedom of speech and if you really want to know what "happened" I would love some Committee to ask HoC guards to tell us what transpired and include those kids.

Bonnie N on October 27, 2009 at 6:10 pm

What "law", exactly, was this activist disobeying?

joops on October 27, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Trespassing for failure to leave the property after being instructed to do so. While the Parliament Buildings are public property, if you are asked to leave for an appropriate reason, you no longer have the right to be there and can be told/asked to leave.

Law Student on October 27, 2009 at 10:32 pm

What kind of crappy protesters need to practice chanting before they do it?

Hey Jack and Lizzie, it`s 2009 not 1969, —do you really think by organizing a bunch of wannabe protesters that you will suddenly capture the young vote that`s leaving the Libs? There is an opening for the NDP and Greens to move up now but not behind a bunch of rent- a – protesters that act like they were helping overthrow a dictatorial regime in the shipyards of Gdansk. Most of them have no clue about the overall effect of the Bill they would like to see passed.

This stupid mis-calcuation on the part of Jack and Lizzie just means they will remain fringe parties—-and don`t tell me they support these guys because of some environmentally principled position they hold. They are both camera-hogs and since neither has any environmental policies that won`t kill the economy, they encourage cheap stunts like this.

William on October 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

'Most of them have no clue about the overall effect of the Bill they would like to see passed"

I suspect that most of those protesters have a better education than you or i. And a better grasp of the bill. Why do old people always despise young people? Well, i suppose the feeling's mutual.

kcm on October 27, 2009 at 8:35 pm

As usual you missed my point. It doesn`t matter what education the protesters have or if that is the reason you despise them. What is important is not how old people felt about the protest—-it is how young people felt about it. The stunt would not have happened without the help of Jack and Lizzie and they naively believed that the youth of the nation would rally around these rent-a- screamers. Maybe in 1969 you could excite large groups to rebel but whether you like it or not most of the youth of 2009 get excited about owning a nice car or condo or maybe paying of their student loan, not environmental stunts.

William on October 27, 2009 at 9:14 pm

The Cons cry freedom of speech……..and then try to stop it. Now, kids can get carried away, but they are passionate in their beliefs and they have a right to express them.

They just need to learn not to make an event silly and make it more meaningful.

The Cons cry freedom of speech……..and then try to stop it.
The Tories didn't stop it. The RCMP stopped it.

Now, kids can get carried away, but they are passionate in their beliefs and they have a right to express them.
Loudly disrupting the House is not an appropriate way to express your views. Are you seriously condoning and encouraging their behaviour?

Mike514 on October 28, 2009 at 7:44 am

Forget about how you feel about Cons and freedom of speech—–I am just saying this was a move that will backfire on the NDP and Greens. Ask yourself this—-how many people of any age that were planning on voting LPC or CPC would change their vote to NDP or Green because of this stunt ?—I suspect the votes will go the other way.

I wonder… the two security guards that were so injured that they had to go to the hospital. Could it have been because they got blood on them from beating a protester and had to make sure it wasn't contaminated. Or perhaps they had to escort an injured protester. What spin. I find it hard to believe that two security agents were injured.

The attempts to discredit the event and the youth that took part is because they see the power that we hold. We, as young people, are capable of capturing the nations attention, we have the courage to act when others do not, to push the boundaries and to speak out for the millions around the world that are dying while our politicians are delaying. They are trying their best to discredit us because they are afraid of what we can do.

The green jobs campaign, which is just beginning,and environmental justice and the fight for
indigenous rights will continue for some time.
The global financial crisis that has caused massive lay-offs and the environmental problems
associated with rampant unchecked use of resources have created a need for
environmentally sustainable jobs.
We are talking abot bringing the issue of climate change to the attention of average Canadians.
It is important, that both the Canadian public and the media
understand how important environmental issues are to Canadian youth, and why.
Young people have shown their resolve on the issue of climate change.
Young Canadians have proven they have the wherewithal to lead this fight.
The stakes are too high for their efforts to fail. They are building one of the
most influential and important movements in history and if any group will put
pressure on those in power to take this matter at all seriously, it will be them.
As the sons and daughters who will be left cleaning up an ecological mess they didn't create,
they know there's no better time to start than the present.

Johnny Mickey on October 28, 2009 at 10:41 pm

The usual b.s. from right-wingers that think it's funny to see someone assualted.Then have the nerve to suggest the NDP organized the protest,imbeciles.It starts to sound like the Neo-Cons. think that we all should have the same ideas about climate change fortunately some younger students feel passionately about thids issue.The Dinosaur Harper Gov't. is so far off in their understanding of climate change it's embarrassing.Harper Neo-Cons. are going to embarrass Canada in Copenhagen too.Play an obstructionist role and set the progress being made back to the dark ages.
I feel ashamed of some of the comments I've read on this issue then realize the source of these insults are intellectually challenged then I have empathy for them.Living lives so filled with hate and loathing.

Freedom of expression and association are also guaranteed in the Charter of rights and freedoms for every Canadian,including students.When Gov't. wants to instill fear and intimidation were not to far from a fascist state but Harper has the audacity to critize Venezuela and Cuba.
Right-wingers are an insult to the human brain.

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